Wake's Grobe getting ready to support the troops
Deacons coach Jim Grobe at ACC Kickoff on July 21, 2008.
May 26, 2009
Tags: ACC, College Football
Wake Forest head football coach Jim Grobe is getting ready to something a little different than coaching a college football team. He'll still be there in the Fall to coach the Demon Deacons, but first he will pay a visit to the Unites States armed forces stationed overseas in Germany, Turkey, Iraq and Djbouti.
Grobe will begin at McConnel Air Force Base near Wichita, Kan. on Wednesday before heading overseas on Thursday. He along with Mack Brown, Houston Nutt, Jim Tressell, Troy Calhoun, Rick Neuheisel and Tommy Tuberville will interact with soldiers as well as coach some flag football.
"I spent 11 years at the Air Force Academy so it's kind of in my heart," Grobe said on 99.9FM The Fan Tuesday. "All of the men and women and the sacrifices they're making, I got to see a little of that at the Air Force, and a lot of the kids that played for me have fought overseas so it's just something that's in my heart."
Grobe mentioned the late Skip Prosser as one main reason he is participating in this trip this week. Prosser went to Kuwait to see the troops and told Grobe it was something he must do.
"I think it's a different kind of trip, I'm sure we'll spend some time talking about different things that pertain to football but it's more of a trip to see our troops," Grobe said. "Somebody mentioned we might set up some flag football games but I'm worried about doing that because I don't want to get any of the guys hurt!"
As far as the season coming up this Fall for the Demon Deacons, Grobe is looking forward to the future that doesn't consist of two of his former outstanding defensive athletes.
"They have all been pretty comfortable watching Aaron Curry and Alphonso Smith fly around, no it's time for some other guys to step up," Grobe said. "My biggest disappointment last year was in some of the younger classes.....but I've found that to compete for championships and get into bowl games you have to rely on younger players."
